Method of treating diseases with recombinant human interferon-like proteins

Abstract

This application relates to recombinant human interferon-like proteins. In one embodiment a recombinant protein created by gene shuffling technology is described having enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to naturally occurring human inteferon like alpha 2 b (HuIFN-α2 b ). The invention encompasses a polynucleotide encoding the protein and recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide. Preferably the polynucleotide is selected from the group of polynucleotides each having a sequence at least 93% identical to SEQ ID: No. 1 and the protein is selected from the group of proteins each having an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. The proteins and compositions comprising the proteins can be used for treatment of conditions responsive to interferon, therapy, such as viral diseases and cancer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       2. A method of treating a viral disease comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       3. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human being. 
     
     
       4. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said protein is administered together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
       5. A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       6. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said protein is therapeutically effective in respect of a broad range of different types of cancer, said cancer being selected from the group consisting of melanoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, lymphoma, prostate carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, esophagus carcinoma, lung carcinoma, cervix adenocarcinoma and cervix carcinoma. 
     
     
       7. A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a protein exhibiting human interferon-like biological activities, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       8. A method of treating a condition responsive to interferon therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a protein comprising a sequence which differs in 0 to 19 amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said protein exhibits human interferon-like biological activities. 
     
     
       9. The method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said subject is a human being. 
     
     
       10. The method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said protein is administered together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
       11. A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
       12. A method of treating a viral disease comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient. 
     
     
       13. A method of treating cancer or a viral disease comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a fragment of a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient, wherein said fragment comprises at least 148 contiguous amino acids. 
     
     
       14. A method of using a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 as an immunomodulation agent comprising administering to a subject in need of therapy a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising said protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.